On the snow-covered slopes of Utah, the unthinkable has just become a nightmarish reality: thirty Secret Service agents have been viciously executed and the vacationing president of the United States kidnapped by one of the most lethal terrorist organizations in the Middle East - the Fatah Revolutionary Council. But surviving agent and ex-Navy SEAL Scot Harvath doesn't believe the Fatah Revolutionary Council is responsible for the attack.

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Publisher's Summary

In a daring and chilling debut, Brad Thor draws us into a sinister labyrinth of political intrigue and international terrorism, serving up an explosive cocktail of unrelenting action as one man is pushed to the edge.

On the snow-covered slopes of Utah, the unthinkable has just become a nightmarish reality: 30 Secret Service agents have been viciously executed and the vacationing president of the United States kidnapped by one of the most lethal terrorist organizations in the Middle East - the Fatah Revolutionary Council.

But surviving agent and ex-Navy SEAL Scot Harvath doesn't believe the Fatah Revolutionary Council is responsible for the attack. Driven by his professional code of duty and honor, Harvath creates his own rules to get some answers. But his search for the truth raises the blood pressure of his superiors...and casts his own life in mortal jeopardy. The deadly machinations have been set in motion by a shadowy coalition, comprising some of the highest-ranking officials in government and business - men who operate above the law, men who realize the threat Harvath poses to their hidden agenda...men who will do anything to stop him.

Framed for murder and on the run, Harvath takes his own brand of justice to the towering mountains of Switzerland where he finds an improbable ally in the beautiful Claudia Mueller of the Swiss Federal Attorney's Office. Together they must brave the subzero temperatures and sheer heights of treacherous Mount Pilatus - and enter the den of the most notorious team of professional killers the world has ever known.

Pure torture listening to this dialog. My condolences to the narrator. He must have been ill having to speak those lines. Oh My God it was bad! But somehow I made it to the end. And yes the plot is predictable!

Would you be willing to try another book from Brad Thor? Why or why not?

No way!

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The author appears to have done his fact homework. Only a few minor agonies there.

This book actually would have been for me if it weren't so ridiculous. I can not believe Brad Thor actually wrote it. The story line is stretched out, it seems just to make the book longer, by some of the most mind numbing, stupid dialog I have ever heard. The characters are not believable, and most of the situations are impossible. I have listened MANY Brad Thor books, and again, I can not believe he wrote this one. It is terrible!

Would you ever listen to anything by Brad Thor again?

I think Brad Thor is an excellent author. I think this book is a huge exception to that rule. I will listen to the next one in the series just because is MUST better than this one.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Armand Schultz?

Armand Schultz is not my favorite narrator, and I don't believe his style is particularly suited to this book, but given what he had to work with, I think he did a very good job. I would listen to more books narrated by him.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Total disappointment.

Any additional comments?

I would never recommend this book or author to anyone except that I know Brad Thor has written much better Harvath books, and to make the most of the series it is probably worth listening to for that reason alone... if you can stand to wade through all of the nonsense.

The story is a bit far fetched, but it didn't stop me from listening to it for the second time straight through. In fact, I'm listening to all ten books in a row for the second time in preparation for the release of Brad Thor's next installment of the series. I can't wait! Some 9 days and counting! One book a day and then the new one!

I am a retired school counselor (middle and elementary) and an avid reader. I am a lover of great mysteries, quirky protagonists, and medical/scientific non-fiction. I travel a lot and love the freedon audiobooks give me to drive, work, and relax while enjoying a good book. On my ipod I have eclectic musical selections as well as audiobooks. I will strive to never steer you wrong in a review.

Adolescents or people who have never read a well-written, well-plotted book.

What could Brad Thor have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

This book began on a very promising note. The setting, the characters and the apparent plot all were very engaging. Instead of continuing with the story the author veered off onto a very unrealistic and adolescent "one-man saves the world" type of plot and abandons characters and situations leaving huge holes in the continuity. Had he continued with the original plot and left off the snide, off-handed remarks of the main character he may have had a good book.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Armand Schultz?

I still am not sure whether it was the content or the reader that annoyed me the most about this audiobook. I do know that Mr. Schultz is not very adept at many of the accents he attempted.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Lions of Lucerne?

Wow, what a question. Pretty much all of the book after the avalanche could be chucked. Of course this would be at least the entire last 3/4 of the book.

Great narration and a good story. However, if an author is going to write about a religion, more research would be appropriate. A little more unbiased perspective would be nice too, rather than an obvious effort to demean. Pretty small, Mr Thor.

I had been looking for a new series to begin after finishing Vince Flynn's "Mitch Rapp" books. I enjoyed the story and the narration but at times it did seem like Thor was attempting to make a certain word count goal. If the rest of his books in this series are as long winded I will make sure to listen to the abridged versions. in summary, good story but could have been hours shorter.

*Sigh* I WANT to like Brad Thor's books. I keep trying but simply cannot. I have ABSOLUTELY NO experience in government agencies or the military-ZERO. There are so many inconsistencies, unbelievable and nonsensical aspects in Thor's books. Thor's knowledge and experience is far beyond anything I know, however there are simple and common sense things that do not match up.

There is a hole in my counter-terrorism, CIA, ex-CIA, lone wolf, American hero loving, at all costs savior library. This space is occupied by THE MASTER Vince Flynn and the Mitch Rapp series. While Flynn can NEVER be replaced, I am in hopes that I will find someone who's work can occupy the space with his. Thor isn't even close.

Brad Thor has legions of fans and 4-5* star reviews I wonder if the 5* fans have ever read or how they feel about other authors. Have they read anything by anyone besides Brad Thor? There are many who feel as I do, comparing Thor/Harvath to Flynn/Rapp.

I'll not beat up on Thor anymore...while I won't recommend him, read the reviews and decide yourself. I have one more of his books to review.

Has The Lions of Lucerne turned you off from other books in this genre?

No...I'll continue to search.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

It was average...no gaping awfulness and nothing spectacular. A solid, average performance.

Any additional comments?

NOTE: Violence and strong language

Credit/ $ Worthiness: There are a few in the series that are pretty inexpensive, try those before using a credit.

As a Vince Flynn fan, Brad Thor was first brought to my attention because of the late Flynn's recommendation. I still picked other books before finally jumping on this book, the first I've read in the Horvath series.

If you like Mitch, Myron, John Rain and a good Ken Follett, this is a read for your wish list. The plot seemed ridiculous in the vignettes, but was well-executed and mostly plausible. Armand Schultz, who is also a Mitch Rapp narrator, did an excellent job with the acting and the voices.

Thor's scene descriptions and action are well-written. There are some dropped balls with some lapses by the protagonist that someone of his caliber wouldn't fall into--but fatigue can be an excuse.

Schultz is strong in his performance, reads with realistic accents, and plays the roles well.

Definitely a good read, and I'm getting another one from the series in my next order.

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